Practical information

VISA
For a visit to the Netherlands up 90 days, tourists from nearly 60 countries only need a valid passport (including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, and Japan). Nationals of most other countries need a Schengen visa, named after the Schengen Agreement that eliminated passport controls between 26 EU member states.

TIME ZONE
The Netherlands is in the Central European Time Zone (CET):
– GMT+1 during Standard Time
– GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time

LANGUAGE
Dutch. Most people also speak English.

CURRENCY
Like other EU countries, the currency of the Netherlands is the euro. The Netherlands is a financial stable country.

PAYMENT METHODS
The most common means of payment is cash. Most stores and restaurants also accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and sometimes American Express). Withdrawing money from an ATM is the cheapest way to exchange your money.

SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited in the Netherlands in offices, public buildings, restaurants and bars. Some restaurants and most bars have a special smoking area.

OPENING HOURS
Most attractions are open daily throughout the year and opening hours may deviate on public holidays. The museums are closed on Monday. Banks are open from Monday through Friday
from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (some on Saturdays) and are closed on public holidays. Opening hours of restaurants vary, but usually open for lunch from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm and for dinner from
5:30pm – 11:00 pm (kitchen closes at 10:00 pm).

The shops in the city centre of Rotterdam are open seven days a week and also on public holidays, except on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Pentecost Sunday and Christmas Day.